This blog is dedicated to treating everyone - clients, prospects, friends, and family - as valuable partners. We should show them our gratitude through all our actions, including our marketing.

December 7, 2014

The Art of Thank You

Previously, we referenced Tom Hopkins’ book, How To Master The Art Of Selling, in
which he discusses the importance of sending “thank you cards”. When he started
as a real estate professional, Tom sent thank you cards to everyone he met. He
carried cards with him and would write out a card thanking them for the
conversation after each meeting, mailing the cards at the first opportunity.

This principle should apply to each of us in our everyday
lives. No matter what our business is, what our level of involvement is, if we
are in a career transition, or who we may know, we should learn the art of
thanking others for what they do, for us and for others. Everyone, without
exception, needs to acknowledge the actions of others, whether these actions
are directed towards us or towards other people.

Showing our gratitude towards others for what they do is so
much more effective than proclaiming how great we are. Everyone likes to be
noticed and appreciated for what they do. No matter who we are, we all
appreciate being thanked and being noticed for our actions. There is no greater
message than showing gratitude to others without trying to tie in a promotion
for ourselves or our businesses.

People do business with, and refer business to, people
that they know, like, and trust. Anyone who provides us information
has given us a gift. They deserve to be thanked, and we should personally show
our appreciation for their gift of knowledge. We all would want to be thanked
for being responsive and providing support. Our networking partnerships themselves
may be the greatest gift of all that we receive.

When someone sends us an email asking for information, we
should reply as soon as possible to the best of our ability. How do we feel
when we never receive an email in reply thanking us for the information? Did
the requester receive our reply, was the information what they needed, did the
information help in the desired result, and did the requester discover new
information that might aid both of us in the future? A simple thank you would
be sufficient, but more details might be more appropriate.

Instead of emailing our thank you, how about sending a
greeting card, expressing our appreciation and gratitude to the partner who
helped us? If the information actually put money into our bank account, the
price of a greeting card would seem to be a small price to pay for that
assistance. Plus, the opening of a greeting card, mailed in a real envelope,
brings many more warm feelings to the recipient than opening an email.

Which means more to us, getting a bland birthday wish on Facebook,
or opening a birthday card that someone sent to us with their personal message
inside? Personally, the greeting card means so much more to me, and I will keep
it where I can see it longer. I also will remember the sender more fondly and
will be more prone to refer business or show my appreciation to them. I guess
that I am human that way.

It doesn’t matter how you show gratitude to others or even
when; just do it. It is never too late, or too early, to thank someone for what
they do, for you or for someone else. Please leave me your comments here, or
email me at Jim@SOC4Now.com,or call me at 360-314-8691. Shock someone today by sending your gratitude in a big
thank you.